The competitive piece is one aspect, they could try new game modes that are not just reskins and points like MK Karting, Chess, Konquest, etc.

They still deliver this. Not those modes exactly, but they’ve always had modes beyond the competitive multiplayer. Their marquis feature at this point, and likely the reason MK games are some of the best selling games of the year of their release these days, is the story mode, and NRS’s peers keep trying to do something, anything, that comes close. The towers are another major driver, but not for me; I really enjoyed the Krypt in X and 11. Between that, the story mode, and versus play, there was absolutely no question that I got my money’s worth out of the game. Sadly, the Krypt was replaced with Invasions in MK1, but I don’t think it was a popular feature with anyone, so hopefully Invasions will be gone from future games.

The modern games all under perform against the ps2 games on metacritic.

Deadly Alliance through Armageddon: 79, 81, 75

MK9-MK1: 86 (9), 83 (X), 85 (XL), 82 (11), 88 (11 Ultimate), 83 (1)

The one you cited as having fanfare for not being shit was after the PS2 games (and 4 and vs. DC) built a reputation of being shit…I’m not sure how that supports your argument.